To Teach

Disclaimer: The characters in this story are all JK Rowling\'s. I don\'t own a single one. I\'m borrowing them for a little debauchery, then, I\'ll give them back.

Relicwitch: No evil cliffie this time, just a cliffie. :p LOL! (Ok, so it\'s really not much of a cliffie either...)

Addiction: Ok, so I\'m going to answer all 3 of your reviews in one response. LOL! I think I like long haired Harry, too. He can be pretty fun to write. LOL! Hang-over\'s are definately the bane of every drinkers existance...YUK!! I\'ve not read much HP fanfic, but I\'ve yet to come by one that had a labyrinth in it. I decided that Harry would definately need time to think...eventually, and there had to be a method to Sev\'s ingenius potions abilities! And, no, can\'t miss half naked Snape...maybe I should write a fic where he can\'t wear a shirt? That\'s an idea....*grins and realizes she waaaaaayyyy off topic* And, most importantly, I promise I\'ll NEVER STOP WRITING!! =D

Papaya: *huggles* Thanks so very much! I imagine Sev being kind of old fashioned, so of course he\'s going to \'court\' Harry. Besides that, after spying for so long and not being able to date, he\'s feeling kind of out of practice. Can you guys tell??

ON WITH THE STORY!!!

He found his book in the sitting room and made his way to the garden. He transfigured a wrought iron bench into a chintz arm chair so he could be comfortable while reading. He took notes in the blank notebook, mostly questions about certain theories and dark spells. He read until lunchtime when Severus and Tizzie arrived with roast beef sandwiches and crisps. Afterward, Severus asked him more questions about Kung Fu, and Harry decided that maybe it would be easier to teach the older man. “If you’d like, I can show you some things, you know, teach you if you’d like.”

Snape was unsure just exactly how to respond. Being a pure-blood, he’d never really taken much stock in anything muggles did. Harry noticed his trepidation. “It’ll be fun, Severus. Besides, we both can use the exercise.”

Snape relented and Harry told him to change into something loose and comfortable, like his cut off sleep pants, and to meet him on the platform. Inside of fifteen minutes, Harry had changed and was waiting for Snape. While he waited, he turned the brick slab into smooth even concrete. He did not want a repeat of the first full day he had there. Snape sauntered onto the platform clad only in a pair of sleep pants, a light gray silk pair. He’d taken care to pull his hair back, and Harry liked the change of appearance. Toeing out of his trainers and tossing his shirt to the side, he smiled, “Ok, first, we need to stretch. We don’t want any pulled or torn muscles. Just follow my lead.”

The two men stretched for about ten minutes and Harry observed that his old potions master was much more flexible than he appeared to be. They worked on simple form and Harry instructed him as they moved, Snape mirroring Harry. In an hour, they were both drenched in sweat from the late June sun. Snape\'s alabaster skin was threatening to sunburn when they finally ended their session. “You should get out in the sun more, Snape.”

The older man laughed and answered, “It does no good. I’ll only burn and peel.”

“We should get back in, then, because your nose is already turning pink,” Harry chuckled.

Harry picked up his shirt and trainers, and he and Snape turned and made their way back into the castle for showers and aloe vera for Severus’ skin. Harry decided on a pair of baggy shorts and a loose tank top for his afternoon writing session. Snape chose a pair of cotton khaki slacks and a short sleeved cream colored silk button-down. Harry padded around bare foot while the older man donned a pair of brown leather sandals. When he saw the older man, Harry whistled. “You really should dress as a muggle more often, but there’s something missing.”

Snape raised an eyebrow as the younger man took the stairs two at a time. He returned with a pair of square, black sunglasses. “Here, put these on.”

Severus looked disdainfully at the glasses and then at Harry. “I’m not outside.”

“Well, duh! I just want to see what you’d look like, you know, posed as a muggle.”

Snape rolled his eyes and put the sunglasses on. They were as sharp a contrast on his pale face as his hair was when it hung loose. Harry smiled, “That’s hot.”

He pushed the sunglasses up onto his head, moving his hair back off of his face. “You’re insufferable.”

Harry leaned toward the older man and batted his emerald eyes, “That’s why you love me.”

Severus gave Harry a funny look, and once he realized what he said, Harry was mortified. “Oh, God! That’s not what I meant! Oh God!!”

Snape just waved it off, but didn’t say anything. “I’d better go start on my other essay. I’ve still got quite a bit to write,” Harry said trying to get away as fast as he could.

Harry walked up to the study and wrote more about his training. Snape, on the other hand made his way to the garden. He decided he’d make good use of Harry’s sunglasses. He spent a couple of hours walking the labyrinth and thinking about the young man’s comment. Severus knew that he was not that transparent, but it gave him hope that the young man had feelings for him.

Before supper time, Harry changed into something a little more appropriate for his ‘date’ with Severus. Snape was impressed when Harry arrived wearing a pair of tailored black slacks, a pale green rough silk shirt, and with his hair down. The older man noted how his hair fell perfectly to the sides of his tanned face. He smiled. “Are you ready to eat, Harry?”

Harry beamed. “What have you got in store for me tonight?”

At that exact moment, their plates appeared with a grilled steak, baked potato, and a roll on them. Harry smacked his lips. “You have excellent taste in cuisine. Steak is one of my favorite meals.”

Snape asked Harry about his papers, and how there were coming. Harry told him that his paper on his experiences was almost twice as long as required already, and he was only half way through. They talked about Snape’s learning Kung Fu, and other trivial subjects. When they were finished, dessert appeared. It was very different from the night before. Each man was presented with a bowl of ice cream, and between them was laid out several different toppings including fudge syrup, strawberries, chocolate chips, whipped cream, and caramel syrup.

Harry grinned like a small child as he added the chocolate, caramel, and finally whipped cream to his ice cream. He looked at a confused Severus. “What’s wrong? Do you not like ice cream?”

Snape scratched his head. “Well, it’s not that, but I’m unsure what to put on it.”

Harry laughed. “Put a little of it all!”

With that, he grinned evilly at the older man and dipped his finger in the whipped cream piled on top of his ice cream. Harry licked it seductively off. Snape rolled his eyes and settled on hot fudge for his topping. When they were full to bursting, they retired again to the sitting room.